Apparatus and method for burning liquid fuel



May 10 1927' E. H. PEABODY APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR BURNING LIQUID FUEL Filed June '7. 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 illllllll mill/1111111,

NVENTOR AITORN E'Y i 1,628,424 May 10 1927' E. H. PEABODY APEARATUS AND METHOD FOR BURNING LIQUIDFUEL Filed June v, 1922 4 sheets-sheet 2 lli/Eon E. Il'. P o

BY @if ATroRNEY 1,628 424 May lo 1927' E. H. PEABODY APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR BURNING LIQUID FUEL Filed June '7, 1922 4 Shoots-Sheet 5 NvENToR EJLPM ATTORNEY E. H. PEABODY APPARATUS AND ME'I'HGD FOR BURNING LI'QUID FUEL May 10 192,7. 1,628,424

Filed June v. 1922 4 sheets-sheet 4 i INVENTOR .EoHcPwfbolEr ATTORNEY of centrifugal g the elli ency of the device.

attention of a large operating force to 4 factory.

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appiinuon neafiule 1, ma. sei-m' no. messe invention relates to a method ofatomy or by means izing liquid fuel mechanicall force'without t e or other atomizing medium, and to an aparatus lfor carrying out such a method. ore particularly the invention relates to a s' whereb the capacity or rate of atomiaation of t e fuel necessary to 'meet fluctuating demands may be controlled throu h a wide'range by simple means, and wherey a large number of atomizers may all be controlled at one centralpoint whic may be at a considerable distance from the atomizers themselves. Furthermore the invention includes means whereby such control ma be effected without any decrease in atomizers now in general orifice, while possessing .All mechanical use having a fix d many advantage, very serious limi capacity; that is, burners w ich were designed forcertain maximum rates of operation'could not be satisfactorily operated at capacities materially lower than this maximum.' This isdue to the obvious fact that as the atomfizin power of ends on tllex w irling motion of'the li uid inthe central chamber of the tip, an as the whirling motion depends on the velocity of the liquid entering tangentially into this chamber, which velocity in turn depends upon the capacity, then any lowering of the capacity lowers the velocity, reduces the whirling motion, and thus lowers the atomizing power and reduces the ciliciency of the apparatus.

The method necessarily followed with this type of apparatus when it is necessary to meet uctuating load conditions requires the change the elective size of thetips or to lace burners in or out of service. his involves constant care and attention with resulting expense, and 's otherwise unsatis- This invention has for its objects the production of a method of centralized control which may Vbe employed with any desired number of burnersv that is simple in arran ement and operation which can be place in the hands of one intelligent operator, which not only saves -labor and wear and tearon the ap aratus but results in greatly improved e ciency of ope'ation.

use of steam `sures and other guides to good operating have been subjectto a ation as re ards range of the burners cle-f Particularly is this true where the central control station is rovided with vinstruments for observing an recording the draft presconditions.

Another object of the invention is the production of a simple form of atomizer ofl extremely wide Vrange of capacity, which shall be of low cost, easily repaired and particularly accessible for cleaning and maintenance.

Another object is to so arrange the arts and particularly the by-pass orilces t ata more regular and ellcient operation shall be obtained under all varying rates of discharge.

Ot er objects will be evident from the following detailed description and the appended claims. t

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an end view of the atomizer.

4Figure 2 is a side view, partly in section.

Figure 3 is a section through the 'plug on the line 3-3 Yof Figure 4. y Figure 4 is anend view of the plug.

'Fi re 5 is a section through the tip on 'the line 5,-5 of Figure 6. i

Figure 6 is an end view of the tip.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal section through the atomzer, showing the tip2 plu an cap assembled in connection with a jacent parts.

Fi showing the tip with outlet orifice. v Figure 9. is a front vie'w of the atomizer shown in connection ywith 'an air register installed `on the furnace front and provided with delivery and return pipe connections.

Figure 10 is a longitudinal section through the structure shown in Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a front view of a furnace front fitted with five atomizers and associated air registers, and showing the proper arrangement of delivery and return pipes..

" Figure 1 2 is a section through the furnace on the line 12-12 of'Figure 1I.

Figure 13 is a diagrammatic plan view of a complete installation includin twelve atcmizers set in fourffurnaces toget er with the proper 'sipailrliyvalvem pumps, heaters, strainers an Figure 1.4 is a front elevation of the same neral arrangement, diagrammatically ilustrated in art. The atomizer comprises a tip 1 held in dss ure 8 is an' end view of the atomizer icc lll

place b a cap 2 which screws on tothe burner barrel 3 and is thus held in place against a plug 4 which communicates with an inner tube 5 by means of a stem portion 6 which makes a sliding fit and provides for lateral motion while at the same time it seals the annular space 7 from the space 8 on the inside of the tube 5. A bevelled portion 9 of the cap 2 engages with a similar bevelled portion 10 on the tip 1, and these are both concentric so that the tip is cen tered and fixed in proper position when the cap is screwed upon the burner barrel An inclined face 11 on the end of the burner barrel 3 is engaged by a similar face 12 on the plug 4, thus centering the latter. In this manner the tip 1 and plug 4 are always held in pro er alignment when assembled. Both of t ese pieces are carefully made with fiat seats or faces, lwhich when held together as shown, make an oil tight fit.

The tip 1 has a projecting portion 13 which extends beyond the face of thevcap when assembled and facilitates of the two arts. That is, if on removal of the cap, t e tip and cap adhere together, the projecting portion 13 of the tip can be tapped lightly against a at surface and at' the same time ample protection is (provided for the orifice 14, the accuracy an perfect roundness of which is essential for proper atomization. The orifice `communicates with a central chamber 15 preferably of a conical shape which in turn communicates with a cylindrical chamber 16. The orifice 14 and two chambers 15 and 16 are therefore in direct communication.

In the face of the tip 1 a channel 17 surrounds the central chamber 16 and communicates therewith by means of accurately machined channels 18 which enter the central chamber tangentially. There may be any desired number of these channels depending on the designers choice and they may be of any cross section, the square section shown being preferable. The plug 4 is provided with a series of holes or passages 19, which extend through the main portion of the plug, being located just outside of the sleeve 6 and preferably parallel therewith. A series of smaller holes 20 also extend through the main part of the plug, but are placed nearer the center so that they communicate with the space in side of the sleeve.

when the tip and plug are assembled together on the burner barrel and with the sleeve'of the plug fitting over the inner tube, it will be observed that the annular space 7 within the burner barrel and exterior to the innertube, communicates by means of the passages 19 in the plug with the circular channel 17 and this in turn communicates Y through the slots 18 with the central champarts separation ber 16 and the chamber 15. Thus there are provided two outlets from this chamber, one throu h the orifice 14 and one through the small oles 20 into the s ace 8 which is separated from the space by the walls of the inner tube and ,the sleeve of theplus The passages 18 leading into the central chamber are so arranged as to besubstantially tangential to the walls of the chamber 16.' The holes 20 are arranged adjacent to the periphery of the chamber.

The burner barrel at its rear end is screwed into a fitting 21 whichhas a projection 22 provided with a recess which engages with a rojection of the fitting 23,

the two toget er forming a coupling or union and being held in place by means of the yoke 24, which is pivoted at 24' and held in operative position in any suitable man-` ner, thus providing means by which the of the coupling may be quickly released.

The fitting 23 is provided with suitable passages (not illustrated) which communicates with pipes 25 and 26 and lead into corresponding passages into the fitting 21. By means of a central diaphragm or artition the fitting 21 is divided into two c ambers. The inner tube 5 screws into this partition and' communicates with an o ning leading into the rear chamber, while the burner barrel screws into the fitting and is in communication with the forward compartment. This entire arrangement,y with additional details is shown and claimed in my companion application Serial vNo. 543,841, filed March 15, 1922.

When the atomizer is entirely assembled and coupled'up as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the various passages coordinate so that there is direct communication from the inlet pipe 25 through the passages in fittings 23 and 21 to the forward compartment in fitting 21 V and thence to the annular space between the inner tube and the inner wall of the burner barrel, and thus to the space 7, through the passages 19 to the' channel 17, through the tangential passages 18 to the central chamber 16, thence through the chamber 15 and orifice 14, or back through the small openings 20 into the space 8, through the inner tube 5 to the rear` compartment in the fittin 21, and so on through the coupling and fitting 23 to the outlet pi e 26.

The fitting 23 is attac ed to a pipe 27 which surrounds the burner barrel when the apparatus is assembled, and which in turn is supported in the hub 28 of 29 of the air register. The latter is providedwith air doors 30 which may be adjusted and locked in any desired position by the control mechanism 31.

Theinlet and outlet pi es 25 and 26-` ycommunicate through exi le connections the front plate with the supply and return pipes and are provided at 34 and 35 with valves for shut-4 tin oli the flow of oilwhen the burner is to e uncoupled and removed for cleani The valve 35 is a combined stopv and chec valve, thecheck preventing the return of oil from the discharge line, so that in taking out a burner for cleaning it is merely nec essary to close valve 34. The valves 36 and 37 are merely for additional protection. t

When connected in multiple on a furnace, additional valves 38 and 39 are provided on the delivery and return pipes 32 and 33. Also it is advisable to provide a valve 40 connecting the delivery and return systems together if desired,V as for example to pei-- mit the circulation of oil when warming up.

Figures 13 and 14 'indicate the'method of connecting up a large number of burners in a multiple number' of furnaces. The liquid is stored in a tank of a pum 46 through a suction strainer 45 and force under pressure through the heaters 47 and through delivery strainers 48 into the delivery line 32 which leads by various branches to the various furnaces and delivers the oil to the inlet side of the burners as shown in Figure 11. l

The return pipes lead back from the individual burners preferably parallelling the delivery lines and control valves are provided on the branches from each furnace as at 39 and from each group of furnaces as at 41, and from the entire system as at 42. Valves 43 and 49 are also provided to make it optional as to whether the returned oil is delivered back to the tank through the valve 43 or to the suction of the pump lthrough the valve 49.V It is obvious that according to which plan is followed, valves 43 or 49 may be used for controlling the entire system in place ofvalve 42.

The operation will be apparent from the above description, but may be briefly stated :is follows. lVhen the return of the oil through pipe 26, Fi ure 1, is prevented, either by closing va ve 35 or 37 of any individual burner, or by closing valve 39, affecting all the burners of one furnace, or by valve 41, affecting all the burners of a rroup of furnaces, or by valve 42 alt'ectin all of the burners that are operating, all o the burners that are affected will act as straight mechanical atomizers at maximumcapacity. The oil will enter each burner through the connection 25, and so on as previously described to the space 7 through holes 19, the tan ential passages-18 and to the central cham er 15 where it acquires a rapid whirling motion. It then passes out through the orifice 14 in the tip and into the furnace in the form of a s ray. No oil will be allowed to iiow back t rough the small openings 20, and all of the oil which enters 44 and is drawn by means 'capacit of a single the central chamber will leave the tip as sprayed fuel.

If, however, burner or grou the return valve on any of burners is opened or partially opene some of the oil which enters the central chamber will flow back through the plug and inner tube 5 and so on to the return lines, while the oil which will be delivered to the furnace in a spray will vary in amount accordin to the proportion of oil .which is allowe to return or by-pass, that is, according to the amount At the same the total amount of of opening ofthe return valve. time it is obvious that oil flowing through the system remains undiininished and as all of this oil enters thev central chamber of the various burners, it is evident that the velocity through the tanential slots is fully maintained, andthereore that there is no reduction in atomizing power. v

The use of straners in the system is for the purpose of removing any extraneous matter which might clog the tips or other passages. The heaters are employed for the pur ose of reducing the viscocity of the oil to t e necessary degree for spraying.

I am aware that certain attempts have been made to provide flexibility for the mefchanical atomizers, and that central spindles the burner may be controlled but I o not know of any method whereby the control of the flow of the fuel to and from a plurality. ofatomizers connected in parallel in a single supply and single discharge line with a portion of the fiiel bypassing the orifice through the center of the atoniizers, is used; and, it is upon this important advanced step inthe art I base my claims for it isreadily understood that while individual adjustment of atomizer-s may ive satisfactory results in installations in w ich only one burner is used it becomes impractical in large plants where many burners are used for the reason that individual burner control r uires the same labor and attention that t e earlier types require, since it is just as eas to put out and light up a burner indivi ually as by adjustment of a spindle.

It is obvious that many made in the details shown without departing from the spirit of my invention. .So far as the general system and method of regulation is concerned it is not'necessary to use the precise form of atomizer here shown. In general it is to be understood that the invention is limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

claim:

1. A method for controlling the combustion of liquid fuel which comprises delivering the fuel to a plurality of points of atomhave been employed by means of which changes may be p points while ization arranged in whirling motion to said fuel prior to atomization, returning a ortion of said fuel after imparting the w iirling motion thereto` and regulating the return of fuel from all of said points-individually and colloctively.

3. A method for controlling the combustion of liquid fuel which comprises delivering the fuel to ailurnlity of points of .atomization arrange in roups, imparting a whirling motion t0 sai fuel prior to atomization Aarranged in groups, imparting a after imparting the whirling motion thereto. and regulating the return of fuel from all of said points individually, by groups, and collectively.

4. A method for controlling the combustion of liquid fuel which comprises delivering the fuel to aCplurality of pointsl of atomization arrange in roups, imparting a whirling motion to saiil fuel prior to atomization and simultaneously regulating the amount of atomized fuel discharge at said maintaining substantiallx uniform thc pressure of fuel supplied to each point of atomization.

5. A method for controlling the combustion of liquid fuel which comprises delivering the fue. to a plurality of points of atomization arranged 'in groups, ,imparting a whirling,r motioli to said fuel prior to atoinization, regulating the discharge of fuel at euch point individually while maintaining substantially uniform the pressure of fuel supplied to each point of atoinizution, and

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regulating the discharge of fuel at all points collective y.

6. In an apparatus for burning liquid` fue', in combination, a .fuel suppl line a.y return line, a lurality of mec anica atomizers connecte in parallel between the lines',`me'ans for controlling the return of the fuel through a single return assage.

7. In an apparatus for burning liquid fuel, in combination, a fuel supply line, means for supplying fuel under pressure to said line, u return line, a plurality of mechanical atom- 4izers connected in arallel between the lines, means for regulating the return of art of the fuel through a single passage tirough the center of euch of the atoinizers.

8. In an apparatus for burning liquid fuel, in combination, a nozzle comprising a tip provided with an orifice and tangential passages all self contained, an abutment plug provided with a plurality of straight parallel holes and adapted to abut against the aforesaid tip, means for supplying a maximum amount of fuel under ressure to the tangential passafres, means or returning a part of the fue throu l1 the abutment plug and means for control ing the amount of fuel thus returned.

9. An apparatus for burning liquid fue] comprising a plurality of atoinizers` a fuel return pipe from eac turn pipe common to a group of burners. und means for separately controlling the How of fuel through each of said return pipes.

10. An apparatus for burnin comprising a plurality of atomizers, a fuel return pipe from each atomizer, a fuel return pipe common to a group of burners, a fuel return pipe common to a plurality of groups of burners, and means for separately controlling the flow of furl through each of said return pipes.

In testimony whereof l ullix my signature.

ERN E. "l ll. PEABODY.

atomizer, a fuel reliquid fuel ization arrangedY in groups, imparting a whirling motion to said fuel prior to atomization, returning a ortion of said fuel after imparting the w irling motion thereto, and' regulating the return of fuel from all of said points collectively.

2. A method for controlling the combustion of liquid fuel which comprises delivering the fuel to a p'urality of points of atomization arranged in groups, imparting a whirling motion to said fuel prior to atomization, returning a portion of .said fuel after imparting the w iirling motion thereto, und regulating the return of fuel from all of said points individually and collectively.

3. A method for controlling the combustion of liquid fuel which comprises delivering the fue. to a )lurality of points of atomization arrange in roups, imparting a whirling motion to sai fuel prior to atomization arranged in groups, imparting a after imparting the whirling motion thereto` and regulating the return of fuel from all of said points individually, by groups, and collectively.

4. A method for controlling the combustion of liquid fuel which comprises delivering the fuel to a plurality of pointsof atomization arrange( in groups. imparting a whirling motion to said fuel prior to atomization and simultaneously regulating the amount of atomized fuel discharge at said points while maintaining substantially uniform the pressure of fuel supplied to each point of atomizution.

5. A method for controlling the combustion of liquid fuel which comprises delivering the fuel to a plurality of points of atomization arranged in groups, imparting a whirling motion to said fuel prior to atomization, regulating the discharge. of fuel at each point individually while maintaining substantially uniform the pressure of fuel supplied to each point of iitoiuization, and

regulating the discharge of fuel at all points collectively.

6. In an apparatus for burning liquid fue, in combination, a `fuel suppl line a yreturn line, a (plurality of mee unical atomizers connecte in parallel between the lines, means for controlling the return ofthe fuel through a single return assage. 0 In an apparatus for burning liquid fuel, in combination, a fuel supply line, means for supplying fuel under pressure to said line, a return line, a pluralitv of mechanical atomizers connected in para lel between the lines, means for regulating the return of art of the fuel through a single passage tirough the center of each of the atomizers.

8. In an apparatus for burning liquid fuel, in combination, a nozzle comprising a tip provided with an orifice and tangential passages all self contained, an abutment plug provided with a plurality of straight parallel holes and adapted to abut against the aforesaid tip, means for supplying a maximum amount of fuel under ressure to the tangential passares, means or returning a part of the fuel through the abutment plug and means for controlling the amount of fuel thus returned.

Au apparatus for burning liquid fuel comprising a plurality7 of atoinizers. a fuel return pipe from each turn pipe common to a group of burners. and means for separately controlling the How of fuel through each of Said return pipes.

10. An apparatus for burning liquid fuel comprising a plurality of atomizers, a fuel return pipe from each atomizer, a fuel turn pipe common to a group of burners, a fuel return pipe common to a plurality of groups of burners, and nii-.uns for Separately controlling the flow of furl through each of said return pipes.

In lcs-I iniony whereof l a'lix iuy signature. ERN EST ll. PEABODY.

'Patent No. 1,628,424.

It is hereby certified that numbered the words arrange in o said fuel; and that t e said Letters t erein that the same may conform to the Signed and sealed this 26th day of July,

Granted May 10, 1927, to ERNEST H. PEABODY.

error appears in the patent re uiring correction as follows:

ups,impartin a and stent should be read with this correction recordof the case in the Patent Ollioe.

rinted specification of the aboveage 4, line 22, claim 3, strike out insert instead raming a M. J. MOORE, lening onmzseoner of Patente.`

Certicate of Correction.

'Patent No. 1,628,424. Granted May 1o, 1927, to

ERNEST H. PEA BODY.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the abovnumbered Intent re uiring correction as follows: Page 4, line 22, claim 31 strike out the words arrange in ups, impartin n and insert instead renaming a o said fuel; and that t e said Letters stent should be read with this correctimx t eroin that the same may conform to the recordof the case in the Patent Oi.

Signed and sealed this 26th day of July, A. D. 1927.

[nth] M. J. MOORE,

Acting Uommz'ssmwr of Patents. 

